Red-blue-white – optionally in the national colors of the USA, but rather those of Russia, is the racing car with which Mick Schumacher is going into his first year as a regular Formula 1 driver. The US racing team Haas presented the eye-catching paintwork of the VF-21 in a photo series on Thursday – which is explained by the new title sponsor: Ural-Kali is the chemical company of Russian billionaire Dimitri Masepin, whose son Nikita (22) is the second Haas cockpit occupied.
“If those are the team colors, I’m happy. The colors don’t bother me as long as the car is fast,” said Schumacher at a virtual press lap: “It’s a very nice car. I’m looking forward to getting in and doing my laps in it rotate.”
The final design of the new Haas racer will not be presented to the public until the test drives in Bahrain (March 12-14). Schumacher, who is entering his debut year with the number 47, and Masepin will unveil the racing car on Friday next week at 8.30 a.m. local time on the racetrack in Sakhir. Team boss Günther Steiner admitted, however, that the 2021 car will ultimately be the car of the previous year, with which Haas had finished the constructors’ championship in penultimate place.
“We are going into a new season with a new title partner and two new drivers, it will be an exciting year,” said Steiner: “We are facing a year of learning with the drivers while we look to the future technically. It is not a year Secret that the VF-21 will not be further developed as we now focus our energies on the car for 2022 and what we hope will be a more even playing field. “
In 2022, things should then move forward significantly with radically changed regulations. The budget cap of 145 million dollars per team will take effect as early as 2021. Haas was exposed to a shit storm in winter when the team held onto Nikita Masepin despite various antics and left it at a public reprimand.
“The time behind the wheel is short – so it will be a steep turn, but I’m personally looking forward to seeing your development as a driver and as a team member,” said Steiner.
